Histomorphometric analysis of cows hoof sole horn

The aim of the study was to perform histomorphometric analysis of the sole horn in the thoracic limbs and pelvic limbs of primiparous and multiparous cows. During hoof trimming, samples of the sole horn were collected from the fore and hind legs of 30 (15 primiparous and 15 multiparous) cows of the Holstein-Friesian breed. Once prepared, the histological slides were analysed using Multiscan software. The bovine sole horn was subjected to histomorphometric analysis, taking account of the number of horn tubules per 1.5 mm2, diameter of the horn tubules, and distances between the horn tubules. In both primiparous and multiparous cows, a significantly greater diameter of the horn tubules was observed in the fore legs, 51.60 and 48.62 vs. 42.42 and 39.88 μm. In second and third lactation cows, the number of horn tubules in the sole horn was significantly greater in the fore legs, 31.00 per 1.5 mm2 vs. 22.50 per 1.5 mm2 (pelvic limbs). There were no significant differences in the histological structure of the sole horn between the primiparous and multiparous cows.